Massive Weight Loss: Effect on Breasts

Submitted by Dr. Daniel A. Sterling

I have lost 60 pounds through diet and exercise, I now have saggy breasts.  Will breast implants help?

A loss of 60 pounds is considered massive weight loss.  It is very natural to have sagging breasts after weight loss as a significant portion of the breast is fat.  The older a woman is the more fat she has in her breasts, and thus weight loss will affect the size and shape of her breasts.  Depending upon the amount of ptosis (breast sag) a number of different approaches may be used.  Women with minimal ptosis may be candidates for augmentation mammoplasty alone.  If the degree of ptosis is more severe an augmentation is usually combined with some type of mastopexy, anything from a crescent mastopexy to a full Wise pattern (anchor) mastopexy.  A good way to judge for yourself is to gage the level of your nipple. If your nipple is at or above the level of your breast fold then usually implants alone will be sufficient.  If the nipple is significantly lower than the fold then a mastopexy is usually required in combination with the augmentation.  All of this can be determined at your initial consultation.